Controlling switch for spotlights and the like



June 14, 1927.

E. G. K. ANDERSON CONTROLLING swncu FOR SPOTLI'GHTS AND'THE LIKE 2 Shoots-Sheet 1' Filed Feb. 10. 1926' June 14, 1927.

E. G. K. ANDERSON CONTROLLING SWITCH FOR SPOTLIGHTS AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 10. 1926 2 Shoots-Sheet 2 k\\\\\\\\\\ 'IIIIIIIIIIII Ell/l Patented June 14 UNITED STATES PATENT ERNST K. ANDERSON. OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR 'IO APPLETON ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

1,632,754 OFFICE.

conrnonnmeswrrcn roasro'rmenrs AND THE LIKE.

Application flied February 10, 1926. Serial a... erase.

. The present invention,

sidered. relates to sp specifically conot'lights of the klnd that have a rotatable operating stem on which is'supported light 'oli and on, an first. to produc in the shape of a e a simp collar adapted to sura switch for turning the it has for its objects: is and novel switch round a stem orshaft and be capable of attachment, removal movement lengthwise to produce a simple an ed to be mounted on i the like, to connect t conductor and a conductor rot pro the shaft; third, to

or adjustment by a of the shaft; second, d novel switch adapta rotatable shaft or ogetl er a stationary atable with duce a simple and novel connection between a conductor extending through the shaft and a switch of the shaft.

The various feature my invention is character after be pointed out the claims; but, for a interior of a hollow mounted on the exterior s of novelty whereby ized will herein with particularity in full understanding of I. my invention and of its objects and advantages, reference may be had detailed description with the accompanyi Figure 1 is a si and a fragment it is mounted, havin to the following taken in connection g drawings, wherein:

de elevation of a spotlight of the support on-which my improved switch applied to the operating stem; Fig. 2 is a section, on an enlarged scale,

assing through vertical plane p taken on a the switch at the long axis of the stem; Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 3-3 f Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2, looking in. the direction of'the arrows; Figs. 5 and 6 are two similar-sections taken approximately on line 5-5 of Fi ing the switch closed the switch open; Fig. 7

approximately on line 8 is a section t the disc-like actuator of the switch.

Referring "to -represents a spotlight able construction mounted on a post or is supplied to the lamdp other supporting member extends a hollow actuating stem 3 2, Fig. 5 show- Fig.. 6 showing is a section taken 77 of Fig. 5; Fig.

aken approximately on line '-88 ofFig. 6; and Fi 9 is a side view of or the movable arm Fig. 1 of the drawings, 1

of any usual or suit- 2 A through which having on the end a detachable handle 4. Current I that may be anchore member 2, andra secpnd cable 6 that extends through a cable 5 to the supporting through be electrica the tubular stem and is adapted to lly connected with the cable 5 by my improved switch'mechanism.

The switch mechanism is enclosed within a casing comprising two cup-shaped members 7 and 8. The'member 7 has a central opening through the bottom of the cup justr large enough to receive the stem. The diameter of the cup 8 i s smaller than that of the other cup so that, when the two members are placed together, with their mouths toward each other, the smalle the larger one.

9 projecting outwardly like part r cup may enter The member 8 has a sleeve:

from the bottom. wall thereof the internal diameter of the part 9 being t diameter of the stem so slipped into the sleeve.

e same that into this sleeve is secured a as the external the stem may be second sleeve 10 opens out from the side of the sleeve 9, and

long bushing 11 around which a clamp 12 may be placed to fasten the same to the support 2. The cable 5' extends up through the bushin 11 and the sleeve 10 into the interior of t e cup 8. Within the cup'8 is arranged ablock 13 of insulating m arc-shaped guard 14 across the inner end of the sleeve 10 aterial that preferably has an extending partially soas to overlie the bend in the cable 5, whoseupper long end is directed laterally and passed through indicated at 18 in Fig.2.

' The block is thicker than the depth of the cup 8, and that part which projects from the cup is enlarged 1n diameterfas'indicated at 19, so as 'to fit within the larger cup 7. *In the cup 7 is a block 20 of insulating material whose thickness is considerably less than the dep cup. A small tube 21 of. conductmg material extends through the block 20,

axis of the same, an the latter,-th1s tube extending also through with the long the bottom wall of the on lated from the latter. In t e e arallel below and being insuosed face of the block 20 is an arc-shaped epression 22 within one end of which an end of the tubular member 21 lies. In this groove is a resilient contact finger 23 one-end of which is fixed to the block servin in the capaclt of-a bymeansof the tube 21 rivet. The free.

end 0 the contact piece or finger is bent a hole 15 in the block 13, parallel with the axis of the same. In theouter face of th of the i portion 19 of cup 7 is fastenedto the stem by means of a upwardly and then downwardly to form an upward projection 24 shaped like an inverted V. lVhen tree to do so, this projection engages with the contact ring 17 in the block 13. In the space between the blocks 13 and 20 is a disc 25 of insulating material rot-atalole on the stem. As best shown in Fig. 9, the disc 25 has a long recess 26 cut into the periphery and, at the middle of this re cess .there is a further recess 27. As best shown in Figs. 7 and 8, there, is a curved plate 28 set into the recess 27 and, overlying this plate, is a light plate 29 that fills the recess 26. A finger piece 30 extends through a slot 31 lying circuinierentially with respect to the cylindrical wall of the casing 7- and through the plate 29 and is screw-threaded intothe plate 28. By swin ing the finger piece 30 around the axis of the stem, the disc 25 will be given a corresponding angular movement. The plate 29 is made of such a length that it will always cover the slot 31. The disc 25 has therein a. hole 35 which, when the disc is at one end of its angular movement, lies opposite the projection 24 on the contact finger, and which is large enough to permit this projection to pass t'hrou h the same and engage with the ring 17. s the disc is turned toward its other angular position, the trailing bounding edge for the hole 35 rides up on one inclined side of the projection 24, pressing the projection laterally and carrying it out of engagement with the co-operating ring. If desired, the disc 25 may be provided with a smaller hole or a slot 36, so located that when the disc reaches the other limit of its angular movement, the ridge of the projection will enter this smaller hole or notch and serve as a ielding lock to hold the disc against acci ental displacement; the hole or slot bein suificiently small to avoid any possibility 0 metal contact between the projection and the co-operating ring.

The two cups are held together by a split resilient ring 37 that is snapped underneath a curved lip 38 extending around the mouth of the cup 7, so as to lie in front of a flange 8 surrounding the mouth of the cup 8 and engaged with the front face of the enlarged the block 13 in the cup 8. The

screw 40 extending through the cylindrical wall of the cup and bearing against the periphery preferably made of sheet metal, the block 20 in thecup 7'is preferably provided with a metal bushing 41 surrounding the stem and in contact with the same, thereby permitting the fastening screw 40 to be threaded through this bushing instead of through the metal of which the cup is made.

The cable 6 extendsfrom the lamp through V the hollow stem, and is passed down through a slot 42 in the underside of the stem.

of the stem. Since the two cups are.

the free end of the cable is a plug 43 adapted to fit snugly into the tube 21, but not so tightly as to prevent its withdrawal from this tube when a reasonable pulling force is applied thereto.

han the cable 6 is plugged to the switch, current will flow from the cable 5 to the .cahle 6 when the switch is closed, the path of the current. being from the connection 18 of the cable 5 with the ring 17. through the ring, through the resilient contact linger 23, through the tube 21 and into the plug 43.

\Vhen the switch is open the {low of current is interrupted by reason of the tact. that the resilient contact; finger is out of engagement with the co-operating contact ring.

in the use of the spotlight, the tubular stem being turned back and forth around its long axis from time to time, it will be seen that the cup 7, together with the resilient contact finger and the controlling disc 25 turn with the stem. While the cup 8 with its block 9 and contact ring 17 remain stationary. In other words, the positions of the actuating handle 4 for the spotlight and the finger piece 30 for the switch do not 7 change relatively to each other on account angular movement of the stem during the operation of the spotlight.

In order to assemble the switch on the stem, the operating handle 4 is detached and the switch. parts, with the cable 5 connected thereto are slipped endwise upon the stem and slid-along the same to the point where they are to remain; the free end of the cable 6 being withdrawn into the stem through the slot 42. When the switch has been properly located lengthwise of the stem, and has been bodily adjusted angularly of the same, the holding screw 40 is turned to lock the cup 7 to the stem, and the clamp 12 is applied to the sleeve or bushing 11 to anchor the latter to the post 2 or other stationary support.- Elie end of the cable 6 is then brought out through the slot 42 and the plug 43 is inserted in the tube or sockct'21.

It will thus be seen that I have produced" be adjusted angularly of the latter.

Furthermore, the two sections of the switch may be adjusted angularly independently of each other, so that the stationary cable may be anchored at any desired angle, and the finger piece may be adjusted angularly of the stem of the lamp to bring it into the. position "which makes its operation most" convenient.

VVhile-I have illustrated and described with particularity only a single preferred form of my invention, I do not desire to be limited to the exact structural details thus illustrated and described;- but intend to cover all forms and arrangements which 'come within the definitions of my invention constituting the appended claims.

I claim i 1. 'A switch device comprising two members rotatable relatively to each other, and each provided with a terminal, contact pieces in said members adapted to be engaged with each other in any relative angular position of said members to connect said terminals together, and an element movable with one of said members and also capable of move ment independently thereof to control the engagement of said contact pieces with each other.

2. A switch'devic'e comprising two annular members rotatable relatively to each other about their central axis, a contact piece in each member adapted to be engaged with the contact piece in the other member in any relative angular position of said members, and an element rotatable with one of said members and capable also of independent movement relative thereto "to control the engagement of said contact pieces with each other.

, 3. In combination, a support, a cylindrical member mounted on said support so as to be rotatable about its long axis a switch casing surrounding said memberandcomposed of 1 two parts, one part of the casing being anrotatable about its ing surrounding said member and -d1V1( ledto said member,

'chored to said support and the other part of the casing being secured to said member, a contact piece in each of said casi, parts adapted to be engaged with each other in any angular position of said member, and an element movable with the casing part that is secured to said member and also capable of independent movement to control the engagement of said contact pieces with each other.

i. In combination, a' cylindrical member long axis, a switch casinto two sections along a plane transverse to' sections being rotatable on said-member and the other being secured a contact piece mounted in the said rotatable section of the casing and extending angularly around the same, a coning section secured to switch device in said casing,

tact finger in the other section of the casing adapted to engage with said contact piece in any relative angular position oi the casing sections, and means mounted in the casthe said member so as to be rotatable therewith and also be capable of independent movements relative thereto to control the engagement of said finger with said contact piece.

' 5. In combination, a rotatable cylindrical member, two' cup-shaped switch casing sections surrounding said member and oppositely disposed to form a chamber between the same around said member, means for anchoring one section of the casing to a sta tionary support, means for securing the second section to said member, a switch device in said casing including a part mounted in and movable with each of the sections, and a switch controlling device carried by said second section and capable of movement independently of the latter.

6. In combination, a tubular member ro; tatable about its long axis, a switch casing composed of two sections surrounding said member and placed side by side thereon, one of said sections being loose on said member and the second section being secured to said member so as to be rotatable therewith, a

a terminal'associated with each section of the casing, a ca- (do in said member, said member having a slot through the wall thereof in the-vicinity of said casing, said cable extending through said slot and having a part detachably connected to the terminal associated with the gasing section that issecured to said mem- 7; In combination, a tubular member irotatable about its long axis, a switch device surrounding said member, said member having a slot through the wall thereof adjacent to .said switch device, a cable within said member, said cable projecting through said slot at one end and having a part detachably connected to said switch device, the construction being such that said end of the cable may be withdrawn into the interior of said member through said slot. I

8. In combination, a support. a tubular member mounted on said support for angulanmovements about its long axis, a switch device on said member, chored to said support and connected to said switch device, said tubular member having anopening through the. wall thereof, said switch device having a terminalsocket, and a conductor located within said member and having an'end extended through said opening and provided with a plug adapted to fit said socket.

9. In combination, a tubular member having a .hole through its wall, a switch device surrounding said member and adapted to be slipped on and off the same by a movement a conductor anductor and its connecting cesareain the direction of the length of said Wall, a conductor arranged within said member and having an end extended through said hole, said end and said switch device having cooperating elements for detachably connecting them together, andthe parts being so proportioned that the said end of the conelement may be withdrawn into said member through said hole.

10. A switch device comprising a cas ng composed of two cup-shaped members oppositely disposed and partly telescoped upon each other. said members being movable angularly relatively to each other, a contact ring mounted in and rotatable with one of said members, a contact finger mounted in and rotatable with the other member, the

'finger tending constantly to engage said ring, an insulating plate mounted in the casing between the ring and the finger and having a limited angular movement with respect to that member containing the finger, said plate havingan opening therein to permit the finger to pass through the same, and

a part extending from said plate to the exterior of the casing to permit the plate to be turned.

11. A switch device comprising a casing composed of two cup-shaped members oppositely disposed and partly telescoped upon each other, said members being rotatable relatively to each other, a block of insulation in each member a disc of insulating mate rial between said blocks, the aforesaid elements havingregistering central openings to receive a supporting shaft, a ring inounted on one of said insulating blocks, a contact finger on the other block tending constantly to engage said ring, said disc having an opening tberethrough to permit the finger to extend thcrethrough and engage said ring, and means extending to the exterior of the casing whereby said disc may be turned a limited angular distance withrespectto said finger.

In testimony whereof, I Sign this speciiication.

ERNST G. K. ANDERSON. 

